How much does a wet room cost
Have you been considering a wet room? You’re sure to have a few questions, most importantly, how much does a wet room cost? Worried it might cost too much?
Installing a wet room doesn’t have to cost a fortune. In the long run, wet rooms can add lots of value to your home. Based on the size of your bathroom, wet room installation can cost anywhere from £3500 to £10,000.
Labour costs will increase with additional features, such as underfloor heating or a shower screen. If you’re wanting to completely remodel your bathroom, the costs of the job will of course increase. Interested? Read on to find out if a wet room is right for you.
What is a wet room?
In contrast to a traditional shower, the entire floor and walls of your bathroom will be waterproof with a wet room. Non-porous surfaces stop water from leaving your shower area, minimising the possibility of damage to your flooring, tiling, and overall building.
Often, they are seen as a luxurious addition to any home that can also add value after they’ve been installed – making up for the average cost of installing a wet room in the first place.
If you have difficulty with mobility or a small bathroom, getting a wet room installed can be a great idea to improve your general wellbeing, whilst adding value to your home. They’re easy to clean, and guide rails can be installed in the shower area for the elderly or those who struggle with movement.
Your wet room can be designed around your wants and needs. Fittings, fixtures and other materials can be chosen and customised depending on what style you’re looking for.
When installing a wet room, you can choose and customise the entire floor and the walls of your wet room (including the tiles). A professional will ensure everything is installed to fit your taste.
The Benefits of Having a Wet Room
Affordable luxury
Typically, a wet room installer will offer design suggestions that will increase the space, look, and feel of your wet room.
A wet room takes an average house and turns it into a luxury home.
Following your wet room installation, walking into your bathroom, you’ll feel like royalty as you step into and out of the shower. You can add additional fixtures and features such as underfloor warming, and more expensive materials and furnishings than your average bathroom space.
Fully waterproof space
Installed by a professional, they will ensure that your new wet room is completely waterproof – preventing any damage to your building, floor, and walls.
The average cost of a wet room is reduced by the prevention of any potential future damages to your home through leakages.
Cleaning is a breeze
Compared to your average bathroom, a wet room is considerably easier to clean – especially if you decide to go with hanging fixtures.
Even if you do not choose a hanging toilet or sink, simply take some wipes or a mop and wipe down the surfaces. The waterproof tiles and materials ensure that a wet room floor is easy to clean and then drain everything down the shower tray once you’re done.
Increasing the value of your home
The average cost of installing a wet room, including labour costs per day, can be costly. However, in the long run, these costs could even out when considering how much value could potentially be added to your property.
A wet room is considered to be an advantage by many home buyers to be a modern, functional and desirable room to have. This will be extremely attractive to potential buyers if and when you come to sell your property. Read our post on wet room advantages and disadvantages to give you a better understanding of the and positives and drawbacks that a wetroom can bring.
Choose the layout and design that you want
The design of your wet room is completely up to you! Choose the flooring, tiles, shower tray and additional fixtures to fit any aesthetic you’re looking for.
Even a small shower space can be turned into a much bigger wet room space thanks to the common lack of a screen or tray.
Some of the most important things to consider when installing a wet room are the shower tray and the waterproofing of the wall and floor areas of your room.
For the price you’re going to be paying when installing a wet room, you want to ensure that the shower tray will prevent water from sitting and will allow it to go down the shower drain.
If your shower tray is not on a small slant then it will not be able to drain properly. A shower drain that does not work will leave you with standing water in the floor area of your new shower.
A convenient and safe space for all
For elderly people and those with mobility issues, a wet room can be a great choice to ensure you can have a comfortable, labour-easy shower every day.
The additional space offered is great for those who use a wheelchair. Moreover, guide rails, seats and additional lighting can be added to further help those who need it. Simply get in and get out, no need to lift your legs.
The non-slip, waterproof tiling and flooring makes for a safe bathroom, no matter your situation.
For those with disabilities, your wet room could cost significantly less thanks to a reduction to or exemption from VAT – check the government’s website to discover if you’re eligible.
Is your home suitable for a wet room?
It’s unlikely that you’ll need any sort of permissions before you start to install a wet room. But, if you reside in a listed building, it’s best to seek advice from the local planning committee.
If you’re designing a wet room for any sort of new build then you will have to apply for building regulations approval.
No matter if you have a small or large bathroom, a wet room can be installed in your home. The only thing that will vary depending on the house is the overall wet room cost.
In fact, for those with a smaller home and bathroom, you’ll see a huge increase in the room you have to manoeuver with no shower tray and shower screen to take up space.
So long as your bathroom is redone from the flooring upwards and the installation is done by a professional, your wetroom will be able to function no matter what sort of house you live in. However, it is important to note that you’ll need a slanted shower drain to allow water to go down, and you’ll need to waterproof (tanking) the entire room.
How much does installing a wet room cost?
Tiling
The tiles you choose can change the cost of your wet room. The labour and materials needed for larger tiles can reduce cost – less time on fitting and less grout and spacers needed makes for cheaper labour costs.
Depending on the tiles you go with, the price per square meter will increase or decrease. The price of tiling can cost around £10 per square meter, all the way up to £100 per square meter.
Choose the best materials for your budget – you really don’t want to cut corners, as this could lead to expensive repair costs later down the line.
The majority of tiles available are non-porous, however, marble and travertine will need to be resealed regularly.
Adhesive, grout, and spacers are additional costs but will be comparatively smaller and less significant than the tiles themselves. However, you always want to buy the best products around for the budget you’re operating with.
Waterproofing
Waterproofing (tanking) is one of the most important steps in building and installing a functional wet room.
No matter the cost or look of a wet room, it’s vital that it is adequately waterproof so it’s durable.
A wet room is not a wet room if it allows for water to leak through the floors and walls – destroying the structure of your home. Damp, mould and other dangerous things can come from a dysfunctional wet room.
You’ll find tanking kits that provide all the products you need to properly waterproof a room before tiling can begin. Cheaper kits will likely cover smaller areas, ensure you check that the kit you end up buying is the right size for the entirety of your floor and shower area.
These tanking kits are available from £50 up to £350.
Labour
Labour costs will differ from installer to installer. Some will offer cheaper quotes, however, it’s important you find someone who is reliable and experienced.
An experienced installer will be able to adapt to any bathroom situation, creating a wet room for any size or space.
The average price can vary from £100 to £200 per day, per man. London and other cities will likely come with higher costs. The average price will change depending on the scale of the work and the complexity of it.
Overall, labour costs will usually range from £1500 to £2000. Contractors may be required, further increasing the costs involved with your wet room install job.
If you were to do the job on your own, and unfortunately not do it correctly, the costs of additional labour and materials to fix damage will reduce the value of your wet room installation.
Not only will a professional have your wet room installed faster, but they will also ensure that things such as water drainage, waterproofing, and underfloor warming work as they should.
There are so many aspects that you need to consider, which make it very difficult to install a wet room on your own. Per day, the cost of a specialist wet room installer is worth it.
Underfloor heating
Underfloor heating helps to keep every part of your new room dry, whilst providing warmth for your feet that is especially great on those cold winter mornings. It can be installed under all different types of flooring – from wood to tiles and carpet.
Underfloor heating mats are the likely best choice. They’re easy to install and heat up faster than the alternative wet systems. Again, this is something that you don’t want to cheap out on, as you won’t have a thermostat or effective heating solution by doing so.
A kit starts at upwards of £100, potentially going as high as £350 depending on the quality of the kit and the size of the room it covers.
Wet underfloor heating systems are connected to your central heating system, so you’ll need a plumber to hook everything up correctly.
Preparatory work
Planning is the best way to ensure that your new shower and toilet will be effective whilst costing you the minimum it possibly can.
First, consider what will need to be done to your bathroom. Will it need to be completely remodelled and stripped down? How much will this cost and how long will it take?
Does your flooring need to be completed? Does tanking need to be installed? Does any pipework need to be done?
It’s a good idea to get a consultation from a reputable plumber or specialist so that you can fully understand all the work that needs to be done, and perhaps importantly, the cost of said work.
At the end of the day, plan, plan and plan some more. It is also handy to have a backup for everything, so you are fully prepared for anything that might go wrong with the installation and building process.
Fixtures and materials
Depending on your budget, you may look to cheaper or more expensive fixtures, fittings and materials.
However, no matter your budget, it’s important that you buy items effective at the job they’re supposed to be doing and have good reviews from other people who have used them before.
Our advice would be to choose the best products that you can afford. It will be an investment that in the long term you’ll appreciate.
Fixtures and fittings such as waterproof lighting, the shower unit and head you choose, or the type of tiling backboards you go with can make or break your new wet room.
For those with larger bathrooms, and a larger budget, a bath can be implemented alongside the shower.
Things to consider
Size of bathroom
The features that you can implement in your new wet room may differ depending on the size of your existing lavatory. If you have a smaller room, you likely will not be able to have a bath alongside the shower and toilet.
However, a smaller size room will end up costing much less to transform in comparison to a large one.
For example, the cost of tile work for the flooring and wall will be cheaper in a smaller room as fewer materials and labour is required.
Budget
You should buy products, items and services that fit your budget. However, it’s best not to sacrifice quality for a cheaper cost, as this is an investment.
If you end up buying cheaper, less effective and reliable items, you’re liable to experience future troubles that can lead to expenses totalling more than if you just bought a better item in the first place.
Of course, do not completely go over budget. Make sure you do some in-depth research on quality, cheaper products that will work effectively for a long time.
Quality of fittings
A wetroom can fall apart at the seams if you don’t save some of your overall budget for good quality, long-lasting fittings.
No matter whether it’s the light fittings or the underfloor warming, once more, it’s not a good idea to go cheap and ineffective.
Plan your budget, and figure out whether you can afford good fittings or whether you’ll have to reduce payments elsewhere in order to do so. Without the right fittings, your wet room will cost you more in the long run.
Time frame
Overall, from planning to finish, it can take upwards of a fortnight to complete the build of a wet room.
You should spend a week planning the design of your wet room. Then, you’ll need to find the correct fittings, furniture, shower unit etc.
Finding the right tradesmen for the job can also be tricky. You’ll need someone with a good reputation and plenty of experience.
Whilst work is being done turning your bathroom into a wet room, you will need a place to shower, go to the toilet and do everything else you normally do in the bathroom. It’s a good idea to understand and plan for all sorts of issues as you prepare for a week or two of work.
The installation of a wet room can take anywhere from 4 days to two weeks – this again depends on the size of the wetroom and the additional features you wish to implement.
FAQs
Is a wet room more expensive than a traditional bathroom?
Yes, usually a wet room will cost upwards of 20% more than a standard bathroom. Mainly, this is because of the waterproofing (tanking) process that is a necessity with wet rooms.
This price is variable in relation to the size of the bathroom, the features implemented and the labour used. It is also changeable with the quality of items you decide to go with.
Due to the build-up of costs from labour, furniture, fittings, and materials, wet rooms are often more expensive than traditional bathrooms. However, this price does come with some perks such as easy cleaning, a luxury feel, and practical nature.
Do wet rooms add value to a home?
Yes, a properly, and professionally installed wet room will increase the value of your home if it is added as an ensuite or secondary shower room.
The majority of modern home buyers see wet rooms as attractive, useful features that put them above alternative homes that don’t have one.
Can any bathroom be a wet room?
Yes, no matter the size or design of your current bathroom, a professional installer will be able to transform it into a wet room.
Some compromises may have to be made for smaller rooms, however, a fully functional, effective wet room is possible in any home or apartment.
Your budget will decide whether you can afford to install an effective, quality wet room.
What is the cost of wet room installation?
The average overall cost of a wet room is between £3500 and £10,000.
This price is dependent on the labour you use, the products you purchase as well as the scale and complexity of the project. Those with smaller bathrooms should expect to pay less than those with larger bathrooms.
Is having a wet room practical?
Yes, a wet room can help elderly people or those who struggle with mobility to enjoy more comfort when showering. Additional features such as handrails and chairs can be implemented at an extra cost if they are required.
Wet rooms are extremely easy to clean. Simply mop or wipe the flooring and walls, then it will drain or dry up soon enough. You’ll no longer have to lift your legs to get into a bathtub or scrub vigorously to clean those corners of the tub that are hard to reach and build up with dirt.
How long does it take to install a wet room?
The minimum time you should expect building work to last is four days. However, more often than not it will take around a week for all work to be completed, leaving you with a fully functioning wet room to enjoy.
Sometimes, it can take upwards of two weeks to install a wet room if there are complexities or complications along the way.
The size of your bathroom and the expertise required to make the design for your wet room a reality may extend the amount of time needed and the amount of money demanded.
It’s good to be prepared, so have somewhere lined up to shower, brush your teeth, go to the toilet and do all other things you might need to do in your bathroom.
You should plan for all of these things before you hire anyone and should have backups just in case there are problems along the way that you cannot control.
